A Wren Says

I’m reviewing my stay at The Knickerbocker Hotel. Let’s talk about the services. The staff sent text messages to check, which I ignored, because I didn’t think anything of it. Then they called the room. It was jarring. I didn’t need anything. If nothing else, they were very serious about checking in and making sure our stay was going well. They take providing care to their guests seriously. Maybe I need to learn to be a more needy traveler and start taking advantage of all they have to offer.

I made sure to use the gym. A negative is that I felt like I had to enter a secret passage way to find the place. I followed the signs, which had me go through a darkened set of double doors. I got to it, but on the way, I was so sure someone was going to tell me I was in an unauthorized area. A plus is that they had a Peloton. Other than that, it was a hotel gym, not winning awards in the fitness industry. I also found another gym that requires special access. I believe it’s if you sign up for a personal trainer. Maybe look into that.

On our last night there, I heard an alarm going off. It was not, for lack of a better word, alarming. More of a “what’s that sound?” I checked the hallway and discovered the sound was not just our room. I reverted back to all of those fire drills back in school and quickly put on a robe and slippers and proceeded to the exit. Once in the hallway, I could hear an announcement, I couldn’t quite make out what was being said. I got outside and noticed the staff still inside. Which is obviously weird if there is a full blown emergency. They said there was no issue; the problem was in the space next door. (To me that could still be a problem.) The announcement had essentially said there wasn’t a problem, and we could have stayed in our rooms. They invited us to have a seat until the fire department gave the all clear. Then we went back to our rooms.

Service staff was great, the hotel gym was okay, but that last experience? I don’t know. I had never before had that experience in a hotel before. If my review of the place were to be based just on this element, I would have pause. I honestly wish the alarm was more jarring. If there is an emergency, I don’t want to waste time questioning what was happening. As well as the staff handled things, I personally would want the piece of mind that people would know to get out immediately. This is just a thing to think about when you’re traveling.